A proper skincare regime can clear up the pores, and prevent damage in skin.

Our skin faces billions of pollution particles daily because of the harmful atmosphere we are exposed to in the city. But just how bad is that for our skin? According to research conducted by the skin experts at The Pond’s Institute, we underestimate the impact of pollution on skin. So we asked them all there is to know about pollution and its detrimental effects on our skin.

What is pollution, really?

Pollution is made up of aggressors that we encounter in our everyday lives that come from smog, dust, traffic fumes, outdoor air, indoor air, UV rays and even from water, and many other seemingly-innocent products.

How does pollution damage our skin?

Pollution contains free radicals and other aggressors that can penetrate deep into the skin’s layers, and can cause long-term damage and darkening of skin cells from the inside. On the outside, the damage can manifest itself through rashes, acne, eczema, dryness, dark spots and even premature aging.

So what happens inside our skin?

Over time, the aggressors from pollution that enter your skin accumulate and suffocate your pores, causing blockage, the smaller the particle the deeper the effects, and these effects on skin can go deep into the epidermis. To counter this damage, skin produces melanin— the primary cause of dark spots on your skin’s surface.

And if skin cannot shed and renew itself at its optimum level, dead skin cells accumulate on the surface of the skin.

While pollution is an unavoidable part of modern city life, there is a solution to prevent pollution from causing damage to our skin — a proper skincare regime. Cleansing properly can help to remove pollutants and help restore our skin’s youthful radiance.